Installation will change historic view of manor

Heather Jan Brunt

Two enormous candlesticks created from empty wine bottles are to be unveiled as the latest pieces of modern art to grace the grounds of Waddesdon Manor.

They follow in the footsteps of earlier pieces of contemporary art in the grounds which have included red painted steel horses and the House of Cards sculpture exhibition.

Constructed from Lafite glass wine bottles, set on a steel armature and lit from within by fibre optic strands, the seven metres tall candlesticks will be impossible to miss as they are to be situated on the iconic North Front of the manor for a period of up to five years.

Visitors will see them immediately as they turn to walk up the driveway towards the historic manor.

No one at the manor was able to confirm who took the decision to have the candlesticks installed, or whether they could be moved temporarily for filming, as the manor is regularly used by film companies for period dramas.

The siting on the North Front is considered to be particularly appropriate as the bottles originate from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, one of the two great Rothschild vineyards in Bordeaux, and the west candlestick will stand opposite the door to the wine cellars in the house.

Waddesdon had to apply for planning permission to install the candlesticks, which have been created by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos and acquired by The Rothschild Foundation.

The candlesticks will be unveiled on Friday April 17 and herald a Year of Wine at Waddesdon, with a range of special events planned.